Modulation of pain perception by ramipril and losartan in human volunteers.

The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are a well known entity and have been used in therapeutics for various indications like hypertension, myocardial infarction and CHF. However, there is a renewed interest in these compounds in terms of their effects on pain perception in animals as well as in human beings. They have yielded contradictory results, showing hyperalgesia in some studies but analgesia in others. Hence this study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Ramipril (an ACE-I) and Losartan (an ARB) on pain perception in human volunteers using cola caps and handcuff of sphygmomanometer. A total of 30 healthy, normotensive individuals with no previous history of intake of analgesics during or 4 weeks prior to the study were selected after an informed consent. The first group received a single dose of placebo, the second group received Ramipril (2.5 mg) & the third group received Losartan (50 mg). Pain perception threshold (the point at which an individual first experiences pain) and the maximum tolerated pain were assessed using the above method. The control group showed no significant changes in pain threshold, but the group receiving either Ramipril or Losartan showed a decline in threshold for maximum tolerated pain. Only Ramipril and not Losartan decreased the pain perception threshold. Our study revealed that single dose treatment of healthy volunteers with Ramipril and Losartan may cause algesia as early as after ingestion of the first dose and further studies are needed to study their long term effects on pain perception.

Effect of ethanolic extract of Eugenia jambolana seeds on gastric ulceration and secretion in rats.

Eugenia jambolana (Jamun) fruit has been reported to give soothing effect on human digestive system. Present study includes the effect of ethanolic extract of seeds of E. jambolana (EJE) against gastric ulcers induced by 2 h cold restraint stress (CRS), aspirin (ASP, 200 mg/kg, 4 h), 95% ethanol (EtOH, 1 ml/200 g, 1 h) and 4 h pylorus ligation (PL) in rats. To ascertain the mechanism of action of EJE, its effect was studied on mucosal offensive acid-pepsin secretion, lipid peroxidation (LPO, free radical) and defensive mucin secretion, cell proliferation, glycoprotein and glutathione (GSH, an antioxidant). Acute and subacute toxicity studies were also conducted for the safety profile of Eugenia jambolana. EJE 200 mg/kg, when administered orally for 10 days in rats was found to reduce the ulcer index in all gastric ulcer models. It tended to decrease acid-pepsin secretion, enhanced mucin and mucosal glycoprotein and decreased cell shedding but had no effect on cell proliferation. It showed antioxidant properties indicated by decrease in LPO and increase in GSH levels in the gastric mucosa of rats. Acute toxicity study indicated LD50 to be more than 10 times (>2000 mg/kg) of the effective ulcer protective dose while subactue toxicity study (>1000 mg/kg) indicated no significant change in the general physiological and haematological parameters, liver and renal function tests. The result of the present study indicates that E. jambolana seed has gastro-protective properties mainly through promotion of mucosal defensive factors and antioxidant status and decreasing lipid peroxidation.

Doping droops.

Drug abuse is a major concern in the athletic world. The misconception among athletes and their coaches is that when an athlete breaks a record it is due to some "magic ingredient" and not because of training, hard work, mental attitude and championship performance. The personal motivation to win in competitive sports has been intensified by national, political, professional and economic incentives. Under this increased pressure athletes have turned to finding this "magic ingredient". Athlete turns to mechanical (exercise, massage), nutritional (vitamins, minerals), pharmacological (medicines) or gene therapies to have an edge over other players. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has already asked scientists to help find ways to prevent gene therapy from becoming the newest form of doping. The safety of the life of athletes is compromised with all forms of doping techniques, be it a side effect of a drug or a new technique of gene doping.